But that's besides the point.Uri Blass wrote:link to the interview that is in hebrew by GM ram soffer
http://www.chess.org.il/users/ShowNewsU ... ntTypeId=2
One of the questions is if there is an interest in playing with houdini or Rybka and if Junior has chances.
Shay say that there is always an interest and the question is if we are going to find sponsors for it.
Shay also believe that Junior has chances.
Ram soffer mention the fact that programs like houdini are clearly stronger by the rating lists
Shay replied that the rating list are based on games on personal computers and with random openings and one of the disadvantage of Junior is that it is relatively weak at blitz.
Shay explained also that the developers fit the openings to the ability of Junior.
He claims that it is possible that some program is better than Junior as an analysis tool on personal computers but they still can beat it when both sides use strong computers.
Everyone that watched Ramat-Gan 2004 closely will agree that in this year Junior completely *dominated* the tournament and was *way* ahead of all other competitors. It even had a lot of bad luck in the tourney IMHO and still won convincingly.
It also had a great opening book btw ( although Alterman probably didn't spend that much time on it)
Of course Shredder or even Fritz could still have won - just too few games that a little bad luck can't alter everything.
The reason that Junior became World Champion 2004 in everyone's mind was that all major competion competed, although a tournament of this kind can't claim any statistical significance. In 2011 Junior won some kind of B tournament. This can't make anyone happy IMHO.
Peter